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Penn State Fayette selects Joshua Swimmer as 2014 Outstanding Fellow

Penn State Fayette selects Joshua Swimmer as 2014 Outstanding Fellow

The Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, honored Joshua Swimmer as the 28th Outstanding Fellow during a special meeting and ceremony held on May 8 at the Uniontown Country Club.

The Outstanding Fellow award was established in 1985 to honor a community leader whose support of the campus has been so exemplary as to warrant special recognition by the Advisory Board and the campus faculty, staff and students. Penn State Fayette does not grant honorary degrees, so the Outstanding Fellow award is the highest honor the campus can bestow. The recipients of this award possess the qualities that truly epitomize the phrase, “Penn State proud.”

Mr. Swimmer has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the university, according to Interim Chancellor Dr. Arlene Hall.

“Josh and his family have a long history of supporting our campus and are true friends of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus," Hall said. "Josh was an active member of our Capital Campaign Committee, giving of his time, energy, and personal resources. He practices good citizenship and is an active steward of community engagement. We look forward to Josh's continued advocacy for our students and his support of higher education.”

A third-generation Fayette Countian, Mr. Swimmer is the son of Wolford and Lenore Swimmer. He is a graduate of Uniontown Area High School and Drexel University, where he earned a bachelor degree in marketing. After selling his family’s wire business, Mr. Swimmer married Maria DiConcilis and later operated several small businesses, including an art gallery and a farm where he raised Paso Fino show horses, winning four national champion titles. After the birth of his children, Jericho and Nikki, Mr. Swimmer returned to work in the sales and distribution areas of the wire business.

In addition to his support of Penn State Fayette, Mr. Swimmer has been involved with organizations such as the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, American Wire Producers Association, Wire Association International, Community Foundation of Fayette County, Paso Fino Horse Association, Congregation Tree of Life, and Holy Society Cemetery.